Pole tree pruners



Sept 21, 1937 R. scHwALB, .1R 2,093,932

POLE TREE PRUNERS Filed NOV. 25, 1956 @www Patented Sept. 21, 1937UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a pruning tool or device primarily adapted forcutting limbs and trimming trees.

It is particularly aimed to provide a novel construction which is morepowerful than existing ones due to double leverage action attainedthereby and the utilization of gravity by having the cutting actionoccur from the top downwardly to eliminate a portion of the resistancein cutting a limb, which will ease up the cutting of the remainder ofthe limb by its own weight.

The invention also resides in the novel details, combinations andarrangement of the parts.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the description following taken in connection withaccompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:-

Figure l is a view of the improved apparatus in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a Vertical sectional view through the apparatus with one ofthe side members removed;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1,and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or similar parts, the invention embodies two side membersor plates designated I0, which are secured rigidly together in spacedrelation by means of a multiplicity of rivets as at II. The plates areadapted to be carried by a pole or staff I2 and are secured thereto bybolts or rivets I3 passing therethrough and through openings in ShanksI4 of said plates I Il. At the upper ends of the plates, they terminatein similar forwardly extending hooks I5 whose bills extend downwardlyand between which a cutter blade I6 is disposed, preferably removably bybolts or the like Il passing through openings therein and throughopenings in the plates IIJ adjacent the hooks. The cutting edge of theblade I6 is lowermost as at I8 and it bridges the throat or space of thehooks.

Co-acting with the blade I 6 is a vertically slidable jaw I9 having aprojecting portion 20, so that a limb to be cut will be engaged betweenthe cutting edge I8 and the projection 20. Said jaw has a vertical slot2I through which a bolt or rivet 22 passes. The jaw has an upwardlyextending projection 23 thereon which is disposed between two of therivets I I. The projection 23 and associated rivets I I and the slot 2Iand bolt 22, eiectively guide the jaw 2U for vertical movement.

Gear or rack teeth are provided as at 24 on the jaw I9 which areenmeshed with teeth 25 of a lever or segment 26 pivoted by a bolt orrivet 21 to and between the plates I0. A pitman 28 is pivoted at 29 tothe lever 26 and at 30 to a lever 3| in turn pivoted at 32 to a bracket33 fastened to the pole or stai I2. Lever 3| is urged upwardly throughthe action of a contractile coil spring 34 fastened thereto and alsofastened to an eyelet 35 secured to the staff or pole I2. The lever 3Ihas an actuating rope 36 depending therefrom at the free end.

In the use of the device, the limb or part to be severed is engagedbetween the cutting edge I8 and the projection 20 of jaw I 9. Thereuponoperating element 36 is pulled downwardly moving therewith the pitman 28and rocking the lever 26 which through the interengagement of the gearteeth at 24 and 25, moves the jaw I9 upwardly with great power. Thecutting of the limb is in a downward direction. The power is augmentedby the novel gearing and the device utilizes the action of gravity byhaving the cutting action take place from the top down since iteliminates one-half of the resistance in cutting the limb which willease up the cutting of the other half by its own weight.

Various changes may be resorted to provided" they fall within the spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A pruning tool of the class described comprising a pair of initiallyseparate plates, a multiplicity of rivets securing the plates togetherin spaced relation, said plates at the upper end having forwardlyextending hooks open at the lower portions thereof, a cutter membersecured between said hooks by certain of said rivets with its cuttingedge lowermbst and bridging the throat of the hooks, a jaw below thecutting edge slidably disposed for vertical movement between the plates,certain of said rivets positioning and guiding the jaw, lever meanspivoted to the plates and geared to the jaw, a pole extending from theplates, and operating means for said lever means.

2. A pruning tool of the class described comprising a pair of initiallyseparate plates, a multiplicity of rivets securing the plates togetherin spaced relation, said plates at the upper end having forwardlyextending hooks open at the lower portions thereof, a cutter membersecured between said hooks by certain of said rivets with its cuttingedge lowermost and bridging the throat of the hooks, a jaw below thecutting edge slidably disposed for vertical movement between the plates,the jaw having an elongated slot entered by one of the rivets andlhaving an extension disposed between others of said rivets forpositioning and guiding the jaw, a lever geared to the jaw, a, poleextending from the plates, a lever piv` oted to the pole, a pitmanconnecting the levers, and a contractile spring connected to the secondlever and to the pole.

ROBERT SCHWALB, JR.

